Counting-out rhymes of children

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GOUNTING-OUT RHYMES.

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COUNTING-OUT RHYMES

OF

CHILDREN

BY

Rev. WALTER GREGOR, LL.D.,

PITSLIGO.

London : DAVID NUTT, 270 Strand.

1891

H

( C> U H t I

FOREWORD,

The Coiinting-out Rhymes contained in this little book were orally collected,
chiefly in the North-East of Scotland. The spelling of the words is accord-
ing to the pronunciation. The collection — read at a meeting of the Buchan
Field Club in Peterhead on Wednesday, 1st May, 1889 — may be an aid to
those who wish to study this curious and interesting branch of Folk-lore, as
well as of Philology. To all who have helped me in my pleasant work I give
my best thanks. ^^TJ^^

PiTSLIGO, FrASEKBUKGH,

June, 1891.

COUNTING-OUT RHYMES.

I. USE OF COUNTING-OUT RHYMES.

Most people know what counting-out rhymes are, and for what purpose
they are employed. They consist mostly of a jingle of words with swing and
rhyme that have little or no meaning. They are met with in all parts of the
world. -They are used by children in this part of the country to find out who
is to begin any game they engage in. Those intending to take a hand in the
game arrange themselves commonly in a line, and one is chosen to " count
out." The counting-out always goes from left to right, or according to the
course of the sun. The one who "counts out" either begins or ends with
himself or herself in counting. The rhyme is repeated word by word, and,
at the same time, the finger is pointed to each player as the word is spoken.
The player on whom the last word falls is " out," and stands aside out of the
line. The same process is gone through till all the players are counted out
except one and the one who counts. The rhyme is again repeated between
the two, and the one on whom the last word falls is " it." Sometimes the
rhyme was repeated but once, and the one on whom the last word fell was
" it," e.g., in the game of " Tackie," or " Tackle among the Rucks."

Cou/iti rig-Out Rhymes.

II. WHAT THEY MEAN.

This mode of couuting-out is an appeal to the lot. The lot has been in
use in all ages, and, it may be safely said, among nations of all degrees of civili-
zation — from the most barbarous to the most civilized community.

The use of lots prevailed among the Jews, and their mode of looking on the
casting of lots is expressed in Prov., xvi., 33 — " The lot is cast into the lap (or,
may be, urn) -, but the whole disposing thereof is of the Lord." Lots were
used by them for various purposes. A few examples will suffice. Men were
chosen by lot to punish the inhabitants of Gibeah for the outrage committed
on the Levite's concubine. Canaan was divided by lot among the tribes
(Numb, xxvi., 55, ^6 ; Joshua xviii., 10 ; Acts xiii., 19). The prophet
Obadiah refers to strangers casting lots on Jerusalem (Ii). After the return
from captivity, those who were to settle in Jerusalem were chosen by lot — one
tenth for Jerusalem, and " nine parts to dwell in other cities" — (Nehem. xi. 1 , 2).
The lot was employed in the choice of persons to office. Thus Saul was
chosen by lot (L Sam. x., 20, 21), and Matthias was elected in room of Judas
Iscariot as one of the twelve Apostles (Acts i., 24, 26). The distribution of
the priestly offices in the temple service was fixed by lot (L Chron. xxiv., 3,
5, 19), as well as those of the Levites (L Chron. xxiii., 28 ; xxiv., 20, 31).
The selection of the scape-goat on the day of atonement was made by lot.
" And Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats — one lot for the Lord, and
the other lot for the scape-goat " (Lev. xvi,, 8). The detection of a criminal
was carried out by means of the lot, as in the case of Achan, who coveted
among the spoils of the captured city of Jericho " a goodly Babylonish gar-
ment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels
weight (Joshua vii., 12, 1 8). Jonathan, on the occasion of his smiting the
Philistines and tasting a little honey in ignorance of his father's having laid a
curse on the people not to taste either food or drink till their enemies were
completely overthrown, was discovered by the casting of lots to have disobeyed
(L Sam. xiv., 41, 42). In the story of Jonah ("The lot fell on Jonah"—
Jonah i., 7) lots were cast to find out who on board was the one on whose

account the storm was sent.

Counting-Out Rhymei.

" No Chinaman will open a shop, marry a wife, or engage in any
important undertaking without casting lots to see if the fates are pro-
pitious. The method of carrying this out is as follows : — Each temple in
China has belonging to it about a hundred stanzas of poetry relating to a
variety of subjects ; each stanza is numbered and printed on a separate piece
of paper ; in addition to this, there are a quantity of lots made of bamboo
slips about eight inches long, corresponding to the number of stanzas, and re-
ferring to them by number. The individual who wishes to make application
to the god presents himself before his image on his knees, and after performing
the ko-totu, by touching the ground with his head nine times, states his name and
residence, the object of his inquiries, and whether on his own or on another's
account. He then takes a bamboo tube containing the lots, and shakes it
gently before the idol until a slip falls to the ground. He then rises from his
knees and picks up this slip, and places it so that the god can see the number
written on it ; he then takes two pieces of wood, each having a round and a
flat side. After passing these through the incense, he tosses them in the air
before the idol : if they fall so that both round sides are uppermost, the
answer is negative and everything is uiipropitious ; if they fall with one round
and one flat side up, the answer is in the affirmative, and the man may go on
his way rejoicing."*

Tacitus tells that the Germans cast lots to find out the future. They
cut the branches of a tree into small slips, distinguished them by certain marks,
and then threw them at random on a white cloth. If the prognostication was
for the public, the priest first offered up a prayer to the gods, and then took
up each slip three times, and from the marks interpreted what the future was
to bring forth. If the prognostication was for the family, it was the father
that acted the part of diviner. {De Moribus Germanorum lo).

Among the Romans future events were prognosticated fronfi the casting
of lots. These lots were a kind of dice made either of wood, gold, or other
material, with certain letters, words, or marks inscribed on them. They were
thrown commonly into an urn, sometimes filled with water, and drawn out
either by a boy or by the one who consulted the oracle. The priests of the
temple interpreted the meaning of the lots as they were drawn out. The lots
were sometimes thrown like common dice. At times it was decided by lot
who was to preside at a meeting. Thus, at the committee for electing the
consuls and creating the praetors, the consuls fixed by lot which of them was
to preside, if they did not decide by consent. Sometimes the election of magis-
trates, priests, and other functionaries was effected by the lot.

*The Folk-lore of China, by N. B. Dennys, Ph. D., F.R.C.S., p. 39.

Among the Greeks recourse was had to the lot for various purposes.
Magistrates, jurymen, and others bearing offices were at times appointed by
lot. So were priests. Champions in battle were also chosen by lot.

" Casting the kevils " was and still is a common mode of deciding a thing.
Thus, in the ballad of " Pause Foodrage" it is said —
" And they cast kevils them amang,

And kevils them between ;
And they cast kevils them amang,
Wha should gae kill the king."

It was the usual mode adopted by our fishermen in dividing their fish after
each fishing. The fish, on the arrival of the boat from the fishing ground,
were divided into as many parts as there were fishermen in the boat. Each
fisherman gave something — a stone, a knife, anything handy, which he could
recognise as his " kevil," to some one standing by. The " kevils " were
cast on the heaps of fish, when each fisherman at once recognised what he had
given, and so claimed his share. Farmers used to divide the sea-weed in the
same way, when they were in the habit of carting it away for manure.

All know the mode of "drawing cuts" by means of two pieces of straw,
grass, wood, or any other material ready at hand, of unequal length. This is a
mode of settling a matter widely spread, and of great antiquity. Horace refers
to the game par impar, i.e., to play at odd and even (Satires 2, 3, 1. 248). The
Greeks called playing at the game apna^eiv. In Belgium it is called paar of
onpaar. The game goes on the same principle as drawing cuts.

A mode of divination in vogue among the Romans was by writing one
or more lines from Homer, Virgil, or the Sibylline Books on slips of paper
and casting them into an urn. A slip was then drawn out, and from its con-
tents was divined good or bad fortune. This mode of divination was called
Sortes Virgiliatta, Homcriae, &c. Sortes Virgiliatue were the best known.
One example will suffice. Alexander Severus wished to find out whether he
would become Roman Emperor. The line —

" Tu regere imperio populos, Romane, memento,"*
turned up. He became Emperor (a.d. 222 — 235).-l-

Christians from the earliest times of Christianity employed the same sort
of divination, but instead of Virgil, Homer, or the Sibylline books, they used
the Bible. Such a mode of divination went by the name of sortes sanctorum,
i.e., either scriptorum, librorum, bibliorum, or codicum. The Psalter or the
Book of the Evangelists was most commonly used, but other books by church
writers were also called into service.

* jEnead, vi., 1. 852. t See Rabelais, b. Ill , c. x.

Counting-Out Rhymes.

In later times the Church condemned the prognostication of the future,
and the punishment for consulting the lots was excommunication. In a
curious treatise, at one time attributed to St Augustine, occur the words :
" Et qui per scripturas sanctas Deum, quid ei facturus sit, expectatur, quid
ipsas indicent scripturas , . . iste non christianus, sed paganus est."*

There was another kind of divination by the Bible, and this, if I mistake
not, continues to the present day. I have heard it spoken of not very many
years ago. The Bible was opened at random, and from the verse on which
the eye first rested conclusions were drawn whether there would be success
or not in what was to be undertaken.

It is now an acknowledged fact that some of the games of children are
survivals of what was once the occupation of men in less advanced stages of
civilization, and that others of them are imitations of what they will be en-
gaged in when they come to years of maturity. Imitation is as necessary for
a child as meat and drink. What these children saw men doing in settling
matters by lot they did. So much then for the fact of the use of counting-out
rhymes as an appeal to the lot.

III. — ORIGIN.

A few words as to the origin of the rhymes themselves. It may be stated
at once that their origin is involved in the greatest obscurity, and not much
has been as yet done to throw light on this interesting subject. What I have
got to bring forward is but a tentative groping. They may have come from
several sources.

I. From what has been termed " The Anglo-Cymric Score" (20). This
was a mode of counting, particularly sheep and cattle, in the northern counties
of England, and in some districts of the south of Scotland. There are many
forms of it, and there is little doubt but some of the words are Welsh. Mr
Ellis says : — " To me the Welsh numerals seem to be the framework of the
whole score, and the infantile rhymes to be mere succursals."f

The modern Welsh numerals are : —

I un

6 chwech

II un ar ddeg

16 un ar bymtheg

» dau

7 saith

II deuddeg

17 du ar bymtheg

3 tii

g wyth

13 tri ar ddeg

18 tri ar bymtheg

4 pedwar

9 naw

14 pedwar ar ddeg

19 pedwar ar bymtheg

5 pump

10 deg

15 pymtheg

zo ugam

* Homilia de Sacrilegiis, III. 8, p. 7.
+ Transactions of the Philological Society, 1877-79, P 316— 37».

10 Countitiff-Out Rhymes.

2. Before the casting of the lots prayer was commonly offered up.
These prayers, misunderstood and therefore easily corrupted or parodied, may
have furnished others.

3. In the cure of diseases formulas or conjurations were often repeated
along with the ceremonies gone through to bring about a cure. The pro-
nouncing of formulas over wounds or diseased parts of the body, or over those
labouring under disease, goes back to the remotest ages, and is very widely
spread. Many of these formulas or conjurations have been recovered from
the cuneiform writings of the Chaldeans. Here is one : —

Painful fever, violent fever,

The fever vifhich never leaves man.

Unremitting fever.

The lingering fever, malignant fever,

Spirit of the heavens, conjure it ! spirit of the heavens, conjure it!*

The pronouncing of formulas over one labouring under disease, or over
any diseased or injured limb, was quite in common use all over Europe till not
very long ago, and the practice may be met with even yet. To write certain
words on a piece of paper and to carry it on the body was a favourite method
of cure, often these words seem to have no meaning. Thus the words for
the cure of a disease called in Denmark gutta were " Tepal, guth, gutta,
Niteas, Ne ganim guspas." The piece of paper on which these words were
written was to be carried always on the person.f For the patient to repeat or
read certain words was also enjoined. Thus in Denmark the words for the
cure of rheumatism and stitches were " Ox, rox, ronen, uperninen paternam,"
with the repetition of five Paternosters.^ Eugene RoUand gives as a counting-
out rhyme an incantation used in Sologne on the Sunday of Torches at the
beginning of this century. The inhabitants on the night of that Sunday,
carrying torches of straw, went round their fields singing the incantation for
the protection of the crops. He adds in a note : — " I believe that many of the
rhymes of children are old incantations."§

4. Some of them seem to be fragments of poems composed on national
or local historical subjects. Thus the one —

Eetem for peetem,

The King cam' to meet him,

And dang John Hamilton doon, —

has the appearance of referring to some historical incident. In the one —

* Chaldean Magic, by F. Lenormant, p. 5.

+ Det Arnamagnaanske Handskrift, p. 86. J Ibid, p. 88.

§ Rimes et Jeux de I'Enfance, p. 242.

Counting-Out Rhymes. 1 1

Queen, queen Caroline
Dipped her face in turpentine ;
Turpentine made it shine,
Queen, queen Caroline, —

direct reference is made to Queen Caroline of Brunswick, consort of George
rV. Pitre in his work entitled " Giuochi fanciuUeschi " (pp. xxv, ff.) gives
instances from several European countries relating to historical events.

5. Others have no doubt been strung together without reference to any-
thing.

IV. FORM OF THE RHYMES.

In the " Anglo-Cymric Score " the numbers go by fives, h. very com-
mon form of counting-out rhymes is by fours. Here is a typical one : —

Anery, twary, tickory, teven,
Hallaby, crackaby, tenaby, leven,
Feem, pam, musky, dam,
Feedlum, fadlum, twenty-one.

But there is much variety of forms, from a single line to a considerable number.
Swing and rhyme prevail in most of them. The syllables ry and by are added
to the end of many of the words to form the_ swing. When one word is
formed the following is formed to go with it, either by a change of consonants
as " hallaby, crackaby," " allibone, crackibone," or by a change of vowels
with the same consonants, as " tim, tarn," " pim, pam," " peem, pam,"
" feedlum, fadlum," " tweedlum, twadlum," " wheedlum, whadlum,"
" tweedltum, twadltum," " tiesh, tosh," " feelicy, falicy."

v. CLASSIFICATION.

At the first glance there seems to be no order or connection in these
counting-out rhymes. Still there are several well-marked groups.

IJROUP I.

The rhymes of this group begin with anery, tivaery, or fwary, and com-
monly end with twenty-one. The lines are formed very regularly. It falls
into three well-marked sub-groups, viz. : —

{a) In which teven or taiven ends the first line.

\F) In which seven or saiven ends the first line.

(f) In which ten ends the first line.

(d) A number having the last line ending with the word tivent\-one can-
not be arranged with much satisfaction.

1 2 Counting-0

ut Rhymes.

r«;

Anery, twary, tickery, teven,
Hallaby, crackeby, tenaby, leven,
Pirn, pam, musky, dam,
Feejlum, faadlum, twenty-one.

(Banff)

Eery, aary, tickery, teven,
Hallaby, crackaby, tenaby, lieven,
Pim, pam, musket, dam,
Feedlum, fadlum, twenty-one.

(Turriff)

Anery, twaery, tuckery, taiven,
Hallary, rackerty, tenby, laiven,
Pot, pan, musky, tan,
Eetlums, potlums, twenty-one.

(New Deer)

Eenery, twaery, tackery, teven,
Halaba, crackery, ten, or eleven,
Peem, pam, whisky, dam,
Teedletam, toddletam, twenty-one.

(Aberdour)

Anery, twaery, tickery, taiven,
Alliby, crackery, tenaby, laiven,
Peem, pam, musky, dam,
Tweedlem, twadlem, twenty-one.

(Lonmay)

Eenery, twaery, tuckery, teven,
Hallowby, crockery, ten, or eleven,
Peem, pam, musky, dam,
Feedilum, fadilum, twenty-one.

(Aberdeen)

Eenery, twaery, tickery, taiven,
AUaby, crockaby, tenaby, elaiven,
Pin, pan, musky, dam,
Feedlum, fodlum, twenty-one.

(Banff)

Eenery, twaery, tickery, taiven,
Hallamy, crackerty, ten, or elaiven,
Peem, pam, musky, dam,
Fiddletam, faddletam, twenty-one.

(Fraserburgh)

Eenery, twaery, tuckerty, teven,
AUaby, crackery, ten, eleven.
Pin, pan, musky, dan,
Tweedlum, twadlum, twenty-one.

(Fochabers)

Anery, twaery, tickery, taiven,
Hallama, crockery, ten, or alaiven,
Pim, pam, musky, dam,
Feedlum, fadlum, twenty-one.

(Tyrie)

Eenry, twaery, tickery, taiven,
AUaby, crockery, ten or elaiven,
Peen, pan, fusky, dam,
Wheedlum, whadlum, twenty-one.

(Fraserburgh)

Eenty, teenty, tickerty, teven,
Hallowmy, crackerty, ten and eleven,
Ann, tan, whisky, dam,
Feelicy, falacy, twenty-one.

(Sandhaven)

Anery, twaery, tickery, tiven,
AUaba, clock, ten and ileven,
Pim, pam, musky, dam,
Feedlum, fadlum, forty-one.

( ? )

Anery, twaery, tickery, tyven,
Halima, crackery, ten or elyven,
Peem, pam, fusky, dam,
Teedletum, toddletum, twenty-one.

(Rathen)

Eenery, twaery, tuckery, taven,
AUibone, crackibone, ten or elaven,
Spun, span, it must be done,
Tweedletum, twadletum, twenty-one.
(Aberdeen)

Anery, twaery, tic!
Cockieby, loviby,
Tim, tam, whisky (

eery, taiven,
ur musky), dam.

Counting-Out Rhymes.

13

Onery, twoery, tiokery, seven,
AUaby, crackery, ten and eleven,
Pin, pan, musky, dan,
Tweedledum, tweedledee, twenty-one.
(Fraserburgh)

Anery, twaaery, tickery, seiven,
AUaby, crackaby, ten an eleiven.
Pin, pan, musky, dan,
Tweedletum, twadletiim, twenty-one,
(Rathen)

Enery, twoery, tickery, seven,
AUaby, crackaby, tenaby, eleven.
Ping, pang, musky, dan,
Tweedalem, twadalem, twenty-one.

(Edinburgh)

Onery, twoery, tickery, seven,
AUaby, crackaby,. ten, eleven,
Ping, pang, whisky, dang,
Teedlim, toddlim, twenty-one.

(Elgin)
Anery, twaery, tickery, saiven,
AUaby, crockaby, tenaby, laiven,
Peem, pam, musky, dam,
Feedlum, fodlum, twenty-one.

(Alvah)

Eenery, twaery, tickery, saiven,
AUaby, crackaby, ten; or elaiven.
Pin, pan, musky, dam,
Tweedlum, twadlum, twenty-one.

(Keith)

Onery, tounery, tickery, seven,
AUaby, crickaby, tennery, leven,
Pin, pan, muska, dam,
Tweedlam, twadlam, twenty-one.

(Glasgow)

Onery, twory, tickery, seven,
AUibi, crackabi, ten or eleven,
Pin, pan, musky, dan,
Tweedlum, twodlum, twenty-one.
Black fish, white trout.
Eery, cry, you are out.

(Grantown)

Anery, twary, tickery, saiven,
Hallaby, cockaby, tenaby, lyven.
Pin, pan, musky, dan,
Tweedlum; twadlum, twenty-one.

(Fraserburgh)

Anery, twaaery, tickery, seven,
Hallaby, clackaby, ten and eleven,
Teish, tosh, maca, bosh,
Tid, taddle, tiddle, stink.

(Keith)

Onery, twoery, tickery, seven,
Hallaby, crackaby, tenaby, leven.
Ping, pang, musky, dang,
Teedlum, todlum, twenty-one.

(Moflfat)

Onery, twory, tickery, saiven,
HoUoby, crockoby, tenby, elaiven,
Peem, pam, busky, dam,
Teedlum, todlum, twenty-one.

(Dyke)

Anery, twaery, saxery, seven,
AUama, craik, ten, eleven,
Pink, pank, musky, dam,
Fiddlum, faddlum, twenty-one.

(Tarland)

Eenery, twaery, tickery, seven,
AUamy, annery, ten, or eleven.
Pin, pan, whisky, ban,
Tweedlum, twadlum, twenty-one.

(St Fergus)

Onery, twoery, tickery, seven,
Alara, balara, ten, or eleven.
Teem, tam, musky, dam,
Teedletum, tadletum, twenty-one.

(Ellon)

Eery, oory, dockery, seven,
Alenna, crackery, ten, or eleven,
Peem, pom, it must be done,
Alenna, crackery, tenery, one.

M

Counting-Out Rhymes.

(c)

Onery, twoery, tickery, ten,
Alliby, crackiby, ten, or eleven,
Peem, pam, musky, dan,
Tweedlum, twadlum, twenty-one.

(Fochabers)

Onery, twoery, tickery, ten,
AUaby, crackaby, ten and eleven.
Pin, pan, musky, dan,
I choose you out.

(Gran town)
Enery, twaary, tickery, ten,
AUaby, crackaby, ten, or eleevin,
Pim, pam, musky, dam,
Queevry, quaavry, English man.

(Portsoy)
Anery, twaery, tickery, ten,
Bobs o' lory, English men.
Fish in the sea, birds in the air.
Lady, come linkin doon the stair.

(Fochabers)
Anery, tary, tickerie, ten,
Bobsy, lory, English men,
Weery, wary, widgeon, wash.
Ink, pink, butter, link,

Ye're oot. (?)

Anery, twaery, tickery, ten,
Bobs, minces, English men,
Queery, quary, ink, pink.
Butter, lock, stock, stink.

(Glenrinnes)
Aenry, tawery, tickery, ten,
Hobsum, bobsum, English men,
Quibus, quabus, Irish men,
Stinkum, stankum, block.

(Keith)
Anery, twary, tickery, ten.
Bob, slob, Irish men,
Keary, kary, ink, pink.
Butter, lock, stock, rink.

(Grantown) ?
Anery, twary, tickery, ten,
Bobsie, munsie, gentle men.
Ting, tang, musky, dam,
Teedlum, fan, twenty-one.

(Keith)

Anery, twary, tickry, ten,
Epsom, bobsum, gentle men,
Pim, pam, whisky, dam,
Feedlum, fadlum, twenty-one.

(Keith)

Onery, twoery, dichery, davy,
Almo, craokmo, tenbo, lavy.
Pin, pan, musky, dam,
Tiddlum, toddlum, twenty-one.

(Sutherlandshire)

Eenity, peenity, pickety, iven,
Hallima, crackery, ten, or eleven,
Peen, pan, whisky, dan.
Come riddle, come roddle, come twenty-
one. (Rathen)

Zaina, daina, dina, disk,
Kittla, faila, fila, iisk.
Each, peach, must be done,
Tweedlem, twadlem, twenty-one.

(Nairn)

As I am a die, and a dee, and a dish.
Kittle a fly, a flee, and a fish,
Each, fish, must be done,
Teedlira, toddlim, twenty-one.

(Elgin)
Holsum, bolsum, English men,
Tweedlem, twadlem, twenty-one.

( ? )
Pin, pan, musky by dam,

Eedlem, tweedlem, twenty-one.

(Aberdour)

Counting-Out Rhymes. 1 5

GROUP II.

This group maybe named the Eetim, peetim group. The first line is

Eetim, peetim, penny pie, or Heetim, peetim, penny pie^ It falls into two sub-

groups —

{a) With the first line ending in penny pie ; and

\b) With the first line ending in penny pump.

The rhymes vary from two to five lines.

(<^)

Eetum, peetum, penny pie,

Staan ye oot by. (Tyrie)

Eetim, peetim, penny pie,

Variant of last line —

Pop a lory, jenky Jye,

For a lump o' puddin' croot.

Ah, day, doo, die.

(Lonmay)

Staan ye oot bye.

Eetim, peetim, penny pie.

(Lonmay)

Popy lory, jenky jye.

Itim, peetim, penny pie.

I chise you oot

Pop a lory, jinky jye,

For a lump of puddook croot,

Ah, day, doot,

(Rathen)

Staan ye oot bye.

Eetem, peetem, penny pie.

(Pitsligo)

Pop o' lory, jenky jye.

Eetem, peetem, penny pie,

Stan' ye oot bye

Cock a lorie, jenky jye,

For a bonnie apple pie.

Ah, day, doot.

(CuUen)

Staan ye there oot bye.

Eetem, peetem, penny pie.

(New Deer)

Pop o' lory, jenky jye.

Eetim, peetim, penny pie,

Staan ye oot bye

Popy lory, jinky jye,

For the bonnie penny pie.

As, daas, doots (doos), dies,

(Mintlaw)

Stan' ye oot by.

Eetum, peetum, penny pie.

(Rathen)

Cock a lory, jinky jye.

, Eetem, peetem, penny pie,

Staan ye oot bye

Pop a lory, jinky jye,

For a bonny penny pie.

Aas, ees, oos, ink.

(Portsoy)

Pease, pottage, smas, drink.

Eetim, peetim, penny pie.

(Strichen)

Pop a lory, jenky jye,

Eetem, peetem, penny pie,

Staan ye out by

Poppy lory, jenky jye,

For a bonnie penny pie,

Ae, zoo, zee, zink,

Eery, ory, ye're out.

Pease, pottage, smas, drink.

(Ellon)

(Tortorston)

Eetem, peetem, penny pie,

Eetim, peetim, penny pie.

Pop a lory, jenky jye,

Popy lory, jenky jye,
I choose you oot

Ah, day, doot, sty,
Staan ye oot bye

For a lump o' penny troot.

For a bonnie penny pie.

(Rathen)

(Banff)

i6

Counting-Out Rhymes.

Eetem, peetem, penny pie,

Pop a lory, jenky jye,

Ah, deh, die,

Staan ye oot bye

For the bomiie pie.

(Rhynie)

Eetem, peetem, penny pie,

Poppy lory, jenky jye,

Ease, aase, ease, ink.

Pease porridge, small drink.

As I went by yon pear tree,

All the pears stood by me,

A ha'penny pudding, black trout,

I choose you out.

(Inverness)
Eetem, peetem, penny pie,
Poppy lorry, jenky jye.
Ease, aase, ease, ink.
Pease porridge, small drink.
Pease pudding hot, pease pudding cold.
Pease pudding in the pot, nine days old,

A ha'penny pudding,

A ha'penny pie,

1 choose you by.

(Inverness)

Eetem, peetem, penny, pump,
A the ladies in a lump.
Sax or saiven in a clew,
A' made wi' candy glue.

(Fraserburgh;

w

Eetem, peetem, penny, pump,
A' the laddies in a lump,
Black puddin', fite troot,
I choose you oot
For a dirtin discloot,

(Lonmay)

Heetum, peetum, penny pie,
Poppy lory, jinky jye.
Ah, days, dites, stites,
Staan ye oot bye.

(Cushnie)

Heetum, peetum, penny pie,
Pop a lory, jinky jye,
Eady, ootside,
Staan ye oot bye.

(Keith)

Heetim, peetim, penny pie.

Pop a lory, jink jye,

Ah, deh, do, die,

Staan ye oot bye

For the bonnie penny pie.

(Auchterless)

Hetem, petem, penny pie.

Pop a lory, jinky jye.

An, tan, toap,

Stan ye out bye

For a bonny penny pie.

(Fraserburgh)

Eeetem, peetem, penny, pump,

A' the boys in a lump,

Sax men an a coo,

A' caed ower wi' candy glue.

(Aberdour)

GROUP III.

This group is distinguished by the words domin or domine in the second
line ; once dolman. It falls into two sub-groups, viz. :

{a) In which the first line ends withy^^^ or faig; and

{b) In which it ends with^a^ ox fay.
The first line of one rhyme ends in ta, of a second in pae, of a third in/f//, and
of a fourth in tegg. The number of lines in the rhymes varies. The normal
number is four. In one rhyme the number of lines is six.

Counting-Out Rhymer.

17

(")

Eenerty, feenerty, fickerty, fegg,
Ell, dell, domln, egg,
Irky, birky, story, rock.
An, tan, toos, Jock.

(Mlntlaw)

Variants of first and third lines —
Iniierty, finnerty,
Irka, birka.

(Rathen)

Variant of fourth line —

Am, tam, toosh, Jock.

(Aberdour)

Eenerty, fickerty, faig.
Ell, dell, domin, aig,
Irky. birky, story, rook,
Am, tam, toosh, Jock.

(Forfar)

Eenerty, feenerty, fickerty, faig.
Ell, dell, domins, aig,
Irky, birky, story, rock.
An, tan, you're Jock.

(Forfar)

Inerty, finerty, fleckety, faig.
Ell, dell, domin, aig,
Irky, birky, story, rock,
An, tan, toos, Jock.

(Glasgow)
Innerty, finnerty, fickerty, fegg,
EU, dell, domin, egg,
Iry, birky, story, rock,
Am, tam, toosh, Jock,
Eery, awry, you are out of this
G-a-m-e.

(Dysart, Fifeshire)

Eenerty, feenerty, fickerty, fegg.
Ell, dell, doman, egg,
Irky, birky, story, rock.
Am, tam, tetherum, toosht,
I choose you oot

To be the great muckle black dishcloot.
(Fetteresso)

Eenerty, feenerty, fickery, fegg,
Ell, dell, dolmans, egg, '

Irky, birky, story, rock,
Aremy, faremy, dickery, dock,
Ellemy, fellemy, tacksen, doot.
Hoot, toot, ye're oot.

(Tarland)

Eenity, finity, fickety, fegg.
Ell, dell, domans, egg,
Irky, birky, story, rock,
An, tan, tooss, Jock.

(Pitsligo, Fraserburgh)

Iseenty, teenty, fickerty, faig,
Zel, del, domin, aig,
Isurky, burky, story, rook,
Isan, dan, toos, Jock.

(Dyke)

Zeenty, teenty, fickety, faig,
Zell, dell, domin, aig,
Zirky, birky, story, rock.
An, tan, tcosht.

(Fochabers)

Enity, fenity, ficty, fegg,
Ell, dell, domins, egg,
Irka, birka, story, rook,
An, tan, toosh, Jock,
Black pudding, white trout,
That shows you are out.

(Kincaldrum Gardens, Forfar)

Eeenerty, feenerty, fikerty, fae.
Ell, dell, domine,
Irky, birky, stole a rock.
An, tan, toos, Jock.

(MeiklefoUa)

W

Inity, finity, fickerty, fae,
Ell, dell, domane,
Irky, birky, story, rock,
Am, tam, tush, Jock.

(Fraserburgh)

Counting-Out Rhymes,

Eenity, feenity, fiokety, fay,
Ell, dell, doininay,
Erky, blrky, stole a rock,
Ane, tane, toos [two's], Jock.

(Old Aberdeen)
Zeenty, feenty, fiokety, fae,
Zell, gell, domine,
Zirky, birky, soorinae,
Zan, gan, toosh.

(Cushnie)
Senty, tenty, ticity, fae,
Sell, dell, domine,
Sirky, birky, story, rock,
San, dan, tusht.
Eery, ory, I choose you oot.

(Glenrinnes)

Eenity, feenity, ficer, ta,
Fae, ell, dell, domina,
Irky, birky, story, rock,
An, tan, toust.

(Banff)

Eenty, peenty, pickety, pae.
All, dall, dominae,
Arty, barty, soory, rock,
Ant, tant, toos, Jock.

(Lonmay)

Eenty, teenty, figgerty, fell,
Ell, ell, damma, dell,
•Lorky, porky, tarry rope.
An, tan, towsy, Jockw

(Sandhaven)
Zeenty, teenty, tickety, tegg,
Zell, dell, domin, egg,
Irky, birky, stock, a rock,
An, tan, tourlem, toosht.

(Dyke)

GROUP IV.

In this group occur the words black hen. It falls into two sub-groups-
(fl) The last line ends with the words black craiv.
(b) The last line is the same as the first.
The formula always consists of four lines.

Eenity, feenity, my black hen
Lays an egg for gentlemen ;
Files ane, an files twa,
An files a bonnie black craw.

(Fraserburgh)
Variant of first line —

luity, finity, &o.

(Old Aberdeen)

(")

Innerty, finnerty, my black hen
Lays an egg for gentlemen ;
Whiles ane, whiles twa,
Whiles a bonnie black craw.

(Dysart, Fifeshire)

(t)

Inty, tinty, my black hen
Lays an egg for gentlemen ;
Sometimes nine, and sometimes ten,
Inty, tinty, my black hen.

(Fraserburgh)

Eenity, peenity, my black hen.
She lays eggs for gentlemen ;
Sometimes one, and sometimes ten,
Eenity, peenity, my black hen.

(Perth)

Inky, pinky, my black hen.
She lays her eggs for gentlemen ;
feometimes nine, and sometimes ten.
Inky, pinky, my black hen.

(Foveran)

Counting-Out Rhymes.

19

Higley, pigley, my fat hen,
She lays eggs for gentlemen ;
Sometimes nine, and sometimes ten,
Higley, pigley, my fat hen.

(Macduff)

Variant —

Higilty, pigilty, &c.

(Macduff)

GROUP V,

In this group tippenny, tuppenny, or twopenny bun is the leading word. It
falls into two sub-groups, viz. : — ;

(a) In which cat occurs ; and

(b) In which cock occurs.

(a)

Eenty, teenty, tippenny bun.
The cat geed oot to get some fun ;
She got some fun, she played the drum,
Eenty, teenty, tippenny bun.

(Sandhaven)

Zeenty, teenty, tippenny bun.
The cat went out to get some fun ;
She got some fun by playing the drum,
Zeenty, teenty, tippenny bun.

(Dyke)

Yuky, pinky, hallogolum.
The cat went out to get some fun :
It got some fun at Toddy's grun,
Ynky, pinky, hallogolum.

(North Lanarkshire)

{I')

Eenty, teenty, twopeimy bun,
The cock went out to get some fun ;
He got some fun, and played the drum,
Eenty, teenty, twopenny bun.

(Elgin)

Zinty, tinty, two-penny bun,
The cock went out to have some fun ;
He had some fun, he played the drum,
Zinty, tinty, two-penny bun.

(Grantown)

GROUP VI.

This group begins with eeny, meeny, or eena, mina. In some the first word
is xeeni, senny, or zinny. It also falls into two sub-groups —

(fl) The last two words of the first line of this sub-group are myny mo,

and the first line is repeated as the last.
(b) The last two words of the first line are mitta or mutta ma, and the
first word of the last line is ant or anty.

r-;

Eeny, meeny, miny, moe,
Catch a nigger by the toe,
If he squeals then let him go,
Eeny, meeny, miny, moe.

(CuUen, Nairn, Banchory)

Eeny, meeny, miny, moe.
Catch your neighbour by the toe,
If he quarrels let him go,
Eeny, meeny, miny, moe.

(Sandhaven)

20

Counting-Out Rhymes.

Eena, meena, mina, moe,

Jack, alack, asina, so,

E, K, kitlie, klam.

Thou shalt be my soldier man.

To ride my horse, to beat my drum.

Out go, la, she.

(Aberdeen)

Eeny, meeny, mit a mat.
Dura ado, dum adat,
Eenty, tenty, peal, a rose.
An, tan, tush, toes.

(Fraserburgh)

Zeeny, meeny, mina, ma,
Dum ado, dum ada,
Zanty, panty, pull a roe,
Anty, tanty, tush, toe.

(Grantown)

Senny, menny, mitta, ma,
Dum, ado, dum, ada,
Zanty (santy), panty, pillar, roe.
Ant, tant, toosh, toe.

(Grantown)

Variants of first line —
Eeny, meeny, &c.
Zinny, minny, mutta, ma, &o.

(Grantown)

Zeeny, meeny, meta, ma,
Dum ado, dum ada,
Zante, pante, pull a roe,
Ant, tant, toosht, toe.

(Dyke)

Eena, meena, mona, mack,
Pass, alona, gona, strack.
Eery, weery, fond, wack,
Irky, birky, wee, wo, wack.

(Fraserburgh)

Endy, bendy, bendy, bough,
Hold the tiger by the tow,
If he cries let him go,
Endy, bendy, bendy, bough.

(CuUen)

GROUP vri.

The distinguishing words of this group are king and John Hmttilton. It
seems to point to some historical event.

Eetum for peetum.

The king cam t' meet him.

And dang John Hamilton doon.

(Tyrie)

Variants of fourth line—
And dang John Hamilton doon the brae.

(Tyrie)
An broke his muckle big tae.

(Peterhead)
And brok's mither's muckle tae.

(Strichen)

Heetum for peetum,

The king cam to meet him.

And dang John Hamilton doon the brae.

Ary, ory. Virgin Mary,

Stan' ye oot bye

For a bonnie penny pie.

(Auchterless)

Coimting-Out Rhymes.

21

GROUP VIII,

The words eese, ose, and man's nose or mans brose mark out this group.
The rhymes vary in length.

Ese, ose,
Man's nose,
Ese, ose,
Oot.

(Lonmay)

Ese, ose,
Man's nose,
Chappit tatties and pease brose.

( ■>■ )
Eesy, osy,
Mannie's nosie,
Eeay, osy,
Out.

(Fraserburgh)

Eesy, osy,
Mannie's nosie,
Out goes she.

(Sandhaven)

Eese, ose,
Man's nose,
A potty fou o' water brose.

(Banff)

Variant of first line —

A cuppie full of water brose,

(CuUen)

Eesy, osy, man's nose,

A pottie full o' water brose,

1 choose you oot.

For a bonnie penny pot.

(Sandhaven)

Eese, ose,
Man's brose,
Eese, ose.
Out.

(Grantown)

Eesy, osy,
Man's brose,
Eesy, osy,
Out.

Eese, aase, oose, zink.
Pease pottage, sma' drink.

Eese, ouse, aase, ink,
Sups my porritoh.
An sma's my drink.

(Nairn)
(Banff)

(Mintlaw)

Eese, oose, aase, ink,
Peyse porridge, sma drink.
As far's I think.
Ye leave the play rink.

( ? )

Eese, aase, oose, ink.
Pease pottage, sma' drink,
Twa an twa's a tippenny loaf,
Twa an twa's it.

(Banff)

Eese, aese, oose, ink.
Pease parritch, sma' drink,
Eeligo, alligo, mutohkin, fairy.
Bom, bell, fiddle, stink.

(Cushnie)

Eesy, osy,
Mannie's nosie.
My dog's dead.
The cat's away to the craidle wi' a sair head,
Canna crack a biscuit, canna smoke a pipe.
Little Johnnie Middleton's breeks is ower
tight.

(Fraserburgh)

Eese, ose,

Man's brose,

My dog's dead.
My cat's away t' the craidle wi' a sair head,
Canna crack a biscuit, canna smoke a pipe,
Hi, Johnnie Heelanman, your breeks is too tight.

(Fraserburgh)

22

Counting-Out Rhymes.

GROTJP IX.

This group is marked out by the words ticker a-been or tickery been. The
rhymes consist of four lines. Ttie Fraserburgh version has Qiteen o Jerusalem
and ocus, pocus, and one version locus.

Endy, teudy, ticker a-been,
I sent a letter to the Queen,
The Queen o' Morocco said to me
Hocus-pocus, one, two, three.

(Rathen)

Inty, tinty, tickery, been,
I sent a letter to the Queen,
The Queen of Jerusalem said to me
Hockie, spokie, one, two, three.

(Fraserburgh)

GROUP X.

The word that marks this group is Ann, It occurs in the first line. In
one rhyme am is used instead of Ann. The rhymes vary in length from three
to seven lines. The word Irishman appears in a good many of the rhymes.

Eery, ary, ickerty, Ann,
Feelicy, falicy, Nicholas, John,
Sticklum, stanklum, twenty-one.

(CuUen)

Eery, ary, ickerty, Ann,
Feelicy, falicy, mixem, John,
Queever, quaaver, Irish man,
Stinklum, stanklum, buck.

(Sandhaven)

Eery, aary, ackertie, Ann,
Feelicy, faalicy, mixin, John,
Queevry, quaavry, Irish man,
Stinklum, stanklum, buck.

(Portsoy)

Eery, ory, eckerty, Ann,
Feelicy, falicy, mixed am, John,
Queever, quaaver, Irish man,
Stinklam, stanklam, back cot.

(Fraserburgh)

Eery, ory, ickery, Ann,
Feelison, falison, fixon, John,
Quivis, quaavis, Irish man,
Feelisy, fallisy, buck.

(

)

Eery, ory, ikery, Ann,
Freelicsome, frolicsome, mixen, John,
Queever, quaaver, Irish man,
Steek 'im, stock 'im, buck.

(Lonmay)

Eery, airy, ickerty, Ann,
Squeery, squaary, Irish man,
Feelison, falison, duxin, John,
Stiggerin, staggerin, buck.

(Aberdour)

Eery, ary, ekarty, Ann
Feelisy, falisy, mixim, John,
Queevry, quavry, buxom Mary,
Peem, pam, pot.

(

)

Eery, ary, eckerty, Ann,
Hob, bob, an Irish man,
A fish in the sea, a bird in the air,
A lady came jumping down the stair.
(CuUen)
Eery, aary, eckerty, Ann,
Bobs and vinegar, I began,
Feelicy, fallacy, mix them, John,
Queevery, quaavery, Irish man.

(Deeside)
Eery, ary, aickarty, Ann,
Bobs an vinegar, I began,
Eet, at, moose, fat.
Fin a riddle, bum, fiddle,
Fink, fank, fizz.

( ? )

Counting-Out Rhymes.

n

Eery, aary, ecerty, Ann,
Bobs in vinegar, I began.
Eat, at, moose, rat,
I choose you oot for a penny pie,

Pur. (Banff)

Eery, airy, aokerty, Ann,
Hunches, bunches, English man.
Back oot, back in.
Back throw the heely pin.

Peter cam t' oor door
Playin at the pipes,
Cum a riddle, fizz, oot.

(Keith)

Eerie, orie, ickery, am,
Pick-me, niok-me, ship-me, sham,
Oram, scoram, piok-me, nor-am.
She, sho, sham, shutters.

(Glasgow)

GROUP XI.

The words hiscuit Mary form the keynote of this group. One rhyme has
luckertie Mary. Is it a Protestant skit on the Virgin Mary .?

Eery, ary, buckerty, Mary,
Peem, pom, pudick root,
Fite fish, black troot,
Eery, ary, ye're oot.

(Fraserburgh)

Eery, airy, biscuit, Mary,
Peem, pam, poddick croot,
Fite fish, black troot.
Eery, airy, ye are oot.

Eery, aary, biscuit, Mary,
Pim, pam, pot.

(Portsoy, CuUen)
Variant of first line —
Eery, ory.

(Cullen)
Eery, aary, biscuit; Mary,
Peem, pam, pot,
I choose you oot,
For a dirty dish clout.

Variant of last line —
You're out.

(Fochabers)

(Cullen)

(Aberdour)

GROUP XII.

Mary at the cottage door forms the feature of this group.

Mary at the cottage door.
Eating cherries off a plate,
One, two, three, four.

Ane, twa, three, four,
Mary at the cottage door,
Eating cherries off a plate.
Five, six, seven, eight.

Variant of third line —

Picking cherries off a plate.

(Cullen)

(Banff)

One, two, three, four,
Mary at the cottage door,
Eating cherries off a plate,
Counting two, four, six, eight,
Mary at the cottage door

(Nairn)

(Cullen)

Eery, ary, biscuit, Mary,

Peem, pam, pot,

You are for a dirty dish-clout,

All the fairies in the carriage.

Count one, count two.

Till you come to Noraway.

(Cullen)

One, two, three, four,
Mary at the cottsige door.
Eating cherries off a plate,
Down fell the summer seat,
I've a kistie, I've a creel,
I've a baggie fu' o' meal,
I've a doggie at the door.
One, two, three, four.

(Deeside)

24

Counting-Out Rhymes.

Bake a pudiling, bake a pie,

Send it up to Lord Mackay,

Lord Mackay's not at home,

Send it up to the man o' the moon.

The man o' the moon's making shoes,

Tippenoe a pair,

Eery, ary, biscuit, Mary,

Pim, pam, pot.

(Enzie)

GROUP XIII.

The words Queen Caroline characterise this group. Instead of these words
appear in one rhyme eevil, eevii, eevl-ine, and in another eer"^, ary, arl-ine.

Queen, queen, Caroline,
Rubbed her face with turpentine.
Turpentine made it shine.
Queen, queen, Caroline.

(Fraserburgh)

Variants of second line —

Bubs her face with turpentine.

(Cullen)

Dipped her hair in turpentine.

(Ellon)

Dipped her head in turpentine.

(Edinburgh)

Eevil, eevil, eevil-ine,
Dippt her head in turpentine.
Turpentine made it shine,
Eevil, eevil, eevil-ine.

(Sandhaven)

Variant of first and last lines —
Eery, ary, areline.

(Fraserburgh)

GROUP XIV.

In this group are included all in which a man's name occurs. It may be
divided into five sub-groups, according to the name and subject, thus : —

Mr Murdoch, Mr Monday, Mr Mungo and his ivife.

John Smith, and the shoeing of a horse.

Mr Dunn, or Mr Smith and his scholars. This rhyme, I am inclined
to think, has reference to the once fashionable practice of sending
the young to have their education completed in France, which
could not be done without the accomplishment of dancing.

Johnnie Frog refers to the same custom.

Various.

(-)

" Mr Mundie, foo's yir wife ''"
" Verra sick, an' like t' die."
" Can she eat ony butcher meat ?"
"Yes, more than I can buy.
Half a horse, half a coo.
Half three-quarters o' a sow,

She mak's her pottage very thin,
A pound o' butter she puts in."
Fite puddin', black trout,
Ye're oot.

(Fraserburgh)

Counting-Out Rhymes.

25

" Mr Mundie, how's your wife ?"

" "Very ill and like to die."

" Can she eat any meat ?"

" Yes, more than I can give 'er ;

She makes her porridge very thin,

A pound of butter she puts in."

Black pudding, white trout,

I chose you to be out

Of this g-a-m-e,

Which spells game.

(Foveran)

Variants —

"Mr Mundie." &c.

" Half a coo, half a calf,

A platefu' parritsh, very thin,

A lump o' butter plumpit in."

Black fish, white trout.

Eery, ory, you're oot.

(Renton, Dumbartonshire)

"Mr Mundie," &c.

" Can she eat anything ?"

" Yes, more than I can buy ;

Half a horse, half a cow,

Half a quarter of a sow."

I choose you out.

Up your head, turn round about.

(Elgin)

" Mr Mundie," &c.

'_' A pound of butter squeezed in."

White fish, white trout,

Eery, orry, you're out.

(Moffat)

" Mr Mundie,'' &c.

Black trout, white trout,

I chise you oot for a dirty dishclout.

(Old Aberdeen)
" Mr Mungo, foo's yir wife ?"
' ' Very sick, an' like t' die. "
' ' Can she eat any butcher meat ?"
" Yes, more than I can buy ;
Half a sow.

Half an ox, half a quarter of a cow.
She likes her porridge very thin,
A pound of butter she puts in."
I choose you oot
For a penny pie, poot.

(Banff)
" Mr Murdoch, how's your wife ?"
" Very iU, and like to die."
' ' Can she eat any meat ?"
' ' Yes, as much as I can buy ;
She makes her porritch very thin,
Pounds o' butter she puts in. "
Black fish, fite troot,
Eary, aary, ye're oot.

(Banff)
Variants—

" A pound of butter she puts in."
Fresh fish, black fish.
Eery, ary, you're out,
For a dirty dishclout.

"Mr Brown," &c.
White trout, black trout.
Eery, ory, &c.

(Cullen)

(CuUen)

" Mr Macpherson," &c.
White pudding, black pudding,
I choose you oot
For a bonnie poot.

( ■'■

(b)

John Smith, a folia fine,
Cam' t' shoe a horse o' mine,
Shoe a horse, ca' a nail,
Ca' a tacket in its tail,
Black fish, fite troot.
Eery, aary, ye're oot.

(Banff)

26

Counting-Out Rhymes.

(c)

Mr Dunn's a very good man,
He teaches scholars now and than,
And when he's done he takes a dance
Up to London, down to France,
He wears a bonnet wi' a green snoot
Eerie, aarie, ye're oot.

(Banff)

Mr Smith's a very good man.

He teaches his scholars noo an than.

An fin he's deen he tacks a dance

Up t' London, down t' France,

He wears a green beaver wi' a snoot.

Tarry, eedle, ye're oot.

(Fraserburgh)

Mr Macpherson's a very good man,
Teaches his scholars now and than,
When they get out they get a good dance
Up to London, down to France ;
He wears a good bonnet, he wears a good
Eery, aary, ye're oot. [snoot,

( ? )

(a)

Kettie Spinner, come doon t' yer dinner,
And taste a leg o' Johnnie Frog,
Johnnie Frog is a very good man,
Though he takes a trip noos an nan,
Up to Scotland, doon t' France,
Eerer, arrer, ye're oot.

(Macduff)

Fringes, oranjies.

Two for a penny.

Come, all ye good scholars

That counted so many.

The rose is red, the grass is green.

The days are gane

That I hae seen. '

Kettie, my spinner,
Cum doon t' yir dinner.
And taste a leg of frog :
Mr Frog is a very good man.
He takes a dance up to France,
Noo an than.

(Portsoy)

Fussle Beardie hid a coo.
Black an fite aboot the moo,
Wisna that a dainty coo,
Belong't to Fussle Beardie.

(0

Rise, Sally Walker, rise if you can,

Rise, Sally Walker, an follow your gueedman.

Come, choose to the east,

Come, choose to the west.

Come, choose to the very one I love best.

(Banff)

(Banff)

Humble, bumble, Mister Fumble,
Ihree score an ten,
Learn me to double a hundred
Uver an over again.

(Banff)

Counting-Out Rhymes. 27

GROUP XV.

This may be called the Mouse group.

Dirckty, dirckty, dock,

The mouse ran up the knock,

The knock struck one,

And down the mouse ran,

Dirckty, dirckty, dock.

(CuUen)

Hickery, dickery, dock,

Zeenty, teenty.

The mouse ran up the clock.

Tether a-mather.

The clock strack one.

Hover, dover,

And doon the mouse ran,

Banfera, haetera.

Hickery, dickery, dock.

Zickety, dickety, dock.

(Fraserburgh)

The moose ran up the nock,

The moose ran up the clock.

The nock struck one,

The clock struck one,

And doon the moose ran.

Doon the moosie ran,

Zickety, dickety, dock.

Ickety, dickety, dog, dan.

(Renton, Dumbartonshire)

(Banff)

GROUP XVI.

The words let, at or aat distinguish this group.

Eet, aat,

Moose, faat,

Eet, at.

Tilly, riddle,

Maise, fat.

Fizz.

Tell a riddle,

(Tyrie)
Variant of third line —

Bum, funk, fizz.

Tarry, eedle.

(Macduff)

(Alvah)

GROUP XVII.

Black bottle is the main word of this group. In one rhyme black beetle.

Eetle, otle.

Eetle, otle.

Black bottle,

Black bottle,

You're out.

My dog's dead,

(Edinburgh)

My cat gid awa till its bed wi' a sair head.

Eetle, otle,

It cannot snap a biscuit, it camiot smoke a

Black bottle,
0-u-t spells out goes she.

(Edinburgh)
Eetle, otle,

pipe.
Little Johnnie Middleton's breeks is too
tight.

(Fraserburgh)

Black bottle,

Eetle, peetle,
Black beetle.

Eetle, otle.

Out.

You are out.

(Fraserburgh)

(Stirling)

28

Counting-Out Rhymes.

GROUP XVIII.

Aipple tree, apple tree is the leading word of this group.
IS fairy tree.

As I geed up the aipple tree,
A' the aipples stack t' me,
Fite puddin, black trout,
I choose you oot,
For a dirty dish clout.

(Portsoy)

In one rhyme it

As I geed up the aipple tree,
A' the aipples fell on me,
Bake a puddin, bake a pie.
Stand you oot by.

(Renton, Dumbartonshire).

As I went up the fairy tree,
A' the fairies hang by me,
Black puddin, white puddin,
I choose you out for a bonnie penny pot.
(Sandhaven)

As I geed up a fairy tree,
A' the fairies hang be me.
Black puddin, fite troot,
I cheese you oot.
For a bonnie pemiy poot,
I cheese you oot.

(Rosehearty)

As I went up the apple tree.

All the apples fell on me,

Bake a puddin, bake a pie,

Send it up to John Kackay,

John Maokay is not in.

Send it up to the man of the moon.

The man of the moon is sewing his sheen.

Three buckles and a farthing in.

(Elgni)
Variants of the last three lines —
Send it up to the man in the moon,
The man in the moon is making shoon,
Twopence the pair, and they're a' doon.

(Edinburgh)
Send it up to the man o' the mune.
The man o' the mune's making shoon,
Penny a pair, a' dune.

(Moflat)

GROUP XIX.

The words puddin, fish, and trout
rhymes consist of two lines, and the last

Black puddin, fite trout,
I choose you oot.

Black fish, fite troot.
Eery, aary, ye're oot.

Black hen, fite troot.
Eery, aary, ye're oot.

Black fish, white trout,
I choose you out.

Black troot, white troot,
I choose you oot.

( ? )

(Banff)

(Keith)

(Fraserburgh)

( ? )

mark out this group. Many of the
line ends with cut or oot.

Eety, peaty, penny pie,
Pop a-lory, jenky, iye.
White fish, black tJout,
I spied you out.

T, , , (Glenrinnes)

i-enty teenty, tippenny bun.
Pop i-lory, jinky, jye.
Black trout, fite trout,
I chise you out.

Inky, pinky, penny pie,
rop a-lory, jinky jye.
Black fish, white trout,
I chose you out.

(Cullen)

(Tyrie)

Coimting-Out Rhymes. 29

Me and the minister's wife keest oot,
Guess fat it wiz aboot,
Black puddins, pease soup,
Eery, ory, ye're oot.

(Old Aberdeen)

GROUP XX.

This group contains the words over, dover, and is not very regular in the
formation of the length of the rhymes.

Eendy, beendy,
Bambor, eendy.
Over, dover, dick.

(Grantown)

Endy, bendy,
Bamber, endy,
Over, dover, dock.

(Glenrinnes)

Zinty, tinty, tethery, bethery,
Bamialeerie, over, dover.
Dicker, dock, done.

(Nairn)

Zinty, tinty, heathery, meathery,
Banks, four, Uteris,
Over, dover, dicket.

(Fort Augustus)
Iseenty, teenty, liethery, bethery,
Bamf, alitre, over, dover,
Dick, don, twenty-one.
One, two, three.

(Dyke)
Sainty, tainty, heathery, bethery.
Bank, fou, littery.
Over, dover, dicky,
Nell, pan, tan, tooah.

(Sutlierlandshire)

GROUP XXI.

This group consists of one line made up of a string of words without any
meaning or connection.

John, rod, tod, rascal.

(Banff)

Ink, pink, penny, stink. 1 Horse, cart, thimble.

(Fraserburgh) | (Grantown)

GROUP XXII.

Two lines form the counting-out in this group. The lines commonly
rhyme. It may be divided into two sub-groups, thus : —
{a) In which the lines rhyme for the most part.

{b) In which the last line is Stan ye oot by, Stan ye oot ower, or some such
phrase to rhyme with the word used in the former line.

Chaps to count the queen's name.
Halleluiah, amen.

(CuUen)

3°

Counting-Out Rhymes.

Fir»t Ui connt at Hnllec, one, two, thrfc';,
Out goe« the bonnie la»«»ie o' I>nnilee.

(Naj/Ti)

Apple Davie, currant Tarn,
Sugar rollie, black nmri.

(XairTi)

Salt herrjn, penny the pun.
Eat thfcin all, and they 11 wxm be dorjc.

(Nairn)

Two an two« a tippeny loaf.
An two and two'f) it.

(Mac^lnff)

Variant of la»t line —

An two an two's out.

(Edinburgh)

Kob I>aw'» luin reeka

Koon about th'j cbimney-cheeko,

(Banff)

Eerinnge», orangeti, two for a penny,
A'm a goo<l ocholar for coontin oo many.
(Kraaerburgh)

Zan, pan, mufiky, dan,
Zan, pan, Uimiii.

(Renton, Dumbartonshire)

Cnp», pUtefi, china, hovrla,
Cup«, plate«, china, bowUi.

(Perth)

Eekery, jjeckery, jeekcry, jye,
Stan ye oot l/y.

(Gk;ririiirj';s)

Bake a j'uddin, bake a pie,
Stan ye f/ot by.

(Cnghnie)

Hoky, Jjoky, penny pie,
Stan ye oot by.

(Meiklefolla)

(I')

Ane, twa, three, fower,
Staan ye t^jt (/wer.

(Tyrie)

One, two, three, four,
Tack a niell an ding 'im our,

(Fraaerburgh)

One, two, three, four, five, »ix, geven,
A' that fioher doddn widna win t' haven.
(Fraserburgh)

One, two, aky bine.
All out but you.

iCnllen)

GROUP xxin.

This group is made up of all the other rhymes not included in the other
groups, and are of various lengths.

Gip«y. gj. a-gibber, a-hay.
Hoi '

Horv, pory, dory,

Hoiky, poiky, goiky, moiky,

I enego, wilorni, dory.

Ka, ra,

Chuckeree, chuckeree,

Or.y, ymy,

Kingy, ningy, na,

Addy, caddy, westce,

Anty, j,<x.,

OiutijAn, chutipan,

China, chu. (Fraserburgh;

(Orkney)

(h,h, two, three,
Cfar,r;y caught a flee,
>l'Adied,
•^iranny cric/1.
Out gofci! fihe.

C^ranton)

Counting-Out Rhymes.

31

As I was walking by a lake,
I met a little rattlesnake,
I gave it so much jellycake,
That it made its little belly ache,
One, two, three,
Out goes she.

(Grantown)

Eentil, teentil, eddy, galong,
Mortal, portal, peel, a gun,
France oot, France in.
Saw ye the laird o' Easel-peasel
Jumpin' ower Jeroozlum steeple,
Eery, ory, you are oot.

(Dundee)

Eena, deena, dina, dust,
Catla, weela, wila, wust.
Spit, spot, must be done,
Twidlam, twadlam, twenty-one,
0-U-T spells out,

With a rotten, totten, dirty dish-clout.
(Fetteresso)

Eendy, beendy, bamba, roe.
Caught a chicken by the toe.
To tne east, to the west,
To the old crow's nest.
Hopping in the garden,
iSwimming in the sea.
If you want a pretty girl.
Please take me.

(Dysart, Fifeshire)

I saw a doo flee ower the dam,
Wi' silver wings, and early man ;
She looked east, she looked west,
She stood upon a brink of san',
To see the cocks of Cumberlan.
I choose you oot.
For a bonny penny poot.

I saw a doo flee our the dam,
Wi' silver wings an golden ban ;
She leukit east, she leukit west,
She leukit fahr t' light on best ;
She lichtit on a bank o' san',
T' see the cocks o' Cumberlan' ;
Fite puddiu, black trout,
Ye're oot.

(Fraserburgh)

Eenty, teenty, tippemiy Ann,
I saw a doo flee ower the dam.
With silver wings and early wan.
It lookit east, it lookit west,
It lookit where it loved best,
It lichtit on a brink o' sand.
To spy the cocks o' Cumberland,
I choose you out for a bomiy dish clout.
(Sandhaven)

An apple, an orange,
A kirk or a college,
A string o' laamar beads,
A bunch 0' blue ribbons,
A happeny bap, peat, sod,
Dyvot, or clod.

(Foveran)

One day I went a-fishing.
And I caught a little trout.
And I said, " You little beggar.
Does your mother know you're out ?"
(Grantown)

When I was young, and had no sense,
I bought a fiddle for eighteen pence.
And all the tunes that it could play
Was "O'er the hills and far away."
(CuUen)

Zaina, daina, dina, disk,
Kittla, faila, fila, fisk,
Each, peach, must be done,
Tweedlmn, twadlum, twenty-one.

( 2 )

Issing, issing, issory,

Where will this poor boy go ?

Go east, go west.

Go to the back o' the crow's nest.

(Old Aberdeen)

I had a dog, its name was Bufif,
I sent it for a box o' snuff.
It broke the box, and skelt the snuff.
And that was a' my pennyworth.

(Old Aberdeen)

Yokie, pokie, yankie, fun,
How do you like your potatoes done ?
First in brandy, then in rum.
That's how I like my potatoes done.
(Portsoy)

Counting-Out Rhymes.

As I went out to sell my eggs,.
I met a man wi' painted legs,
Painted legs and tipped toes,
That's the way the ladies goes.

(Grantown)

What's for supper ?
Pease brose and butter.
Who'll say the grace ?
I'll say the grace.
Colour viti, colour voti,
Colour taste, taste, taste.

(Grantown)

I doot, I doot, my fire's out.
And my little dog's not at home ;
I'll saddle my cat, I'll bridle my cat,
And bring my little dog home ;
A hapenny pudding, a hapenny pie.
Stand ye there out by.

(Moffat)

Rub, a bub, bub, '^

Three men in a tub,
A butcher, a baker,
A candy-stick maker.

(Grantown)

A-rub, a-dub-dub,
Three men in a tub,
A butcher, a baker,
A candlestick maker.

(Grantown)

There was a crookit man
And he walked a crookit mile.
He found a crookit saxpence
Upon a crookit style.
He booht a crookit cat,
And caught a croolyt moose.
And they all lived together
In a little crookit hoose.

(Old Aberdeen)

One, two, three, four, five,
Catch a fishie while alive ;
Why did you let it go 1
Because it bit my finger so.

One, two, three, four, five.
Can you catch a fish alive ?
Why did you let it go ?
Because it bit my finger, 0.

( -i )

As I geed up the brandy hill,
I met my father — he geed wuU,
He hid jewels, he hid rings,
He'd a cat wi' ten tails.
He'd a ship wi' saiven sails.
He'd a haimmer, dreeve nails.
Up Jack, doon T'am,
Blaw the bellows, auF man.

. (Fraserburgh)
As I gaed up the brandy hill,
I met my father ; he geed will.
He'd jewels, he'd rings.
He'd mony fine things,
He'll a cat wi' ten tails.
He'd a ship wi' saiven sails.
Up Jack, down Tom,
Blow the bellows, eld man.
Old man had a coat,
He rowed aboot, t' the ferry-boat ;
The ferry-boat's our dear.
Ten poun' i' the year.
I've a cherry, I've a chest,
I've a bonny b^jie vest,
I'vfe a dog amo' the corn,
Blawin' Willie Buck's horn ;
Willie Buck hiz a coo.
Black an fite aboot the moo.
It jumpit our the Brig o' Muck,
An ran awa fae Willie Bucjf.

(Banff)

I think, I think,
I fin a stink.
It's comin from y-o-u. '
On whom " u " fell was beaten with bonnets till ho cried

Peas.'

In the following formula the syllable ca must be added to the end of each word
I wad gee a' my livin'
That my wife were as fite an as fair
As the swans that flee o'er the mill-dam.

(Portsoy)